ASC criticised over approach to new AIS concept

6/10/95

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore has criticised the Australian Sports Commission for its 'Big Brother' approach to the new AIS concept announced earlier this week.

In a letter to his federal counterpart, Mr Moore questioned the need to change a system that has resulted in resounding international success.

"It had been agreed that the State Institutes and State Ministers would be given the opportunity to consider any new concept and it would be discussed further at a meeting next week," the Minister said.

"The manner and contents of the announcement contradicted the consultative process agreed to by all Institutes at a recent meeting in Launceston."

The AIS announced on Wednesday it would change its method of operation and its focus would be to support individual elite athletes wherever they lived.  The move means the AIS will have sole responsibility for federal funding of sporting stars.

Mr Moore said it was ironic that the AIS had been pushing to get Western Australian gymnasts to a central program and now had a huge turnaround saying it was willing to support athletes in their home town.

"There has been a feeling for sometime that the AIS's role is changing and diminishing," he said.

"This is simply an attempt to reinstate it to a position of pre-eminence for no reason other than visibility."

Mr Moore said there were no apparent benefits to the athletes in the new concept and that Australian sports men and women were achieving some of the best results in history.

"The Olympic results in 1988 were encouraging (14 medals) and the 1992 results (27 medals, seven gold) far exceeded most critics' expectations," he said.

"That was Australia's best-ever result at an 'away' games.

"Add to that the fact that Australia won more than twice the number of gold medals at last year's Commonwealth Games (87) than any other country, including England and Canada, there does not seem to be much wrong with the system."

Mr Moore said there was nothing new for sport in the concept.  It was simply the same money wrapped up in a new parcel.

"Contrary to what is being said, the concept has been announced in a most unco-operative way and the new AIS scholarship will cause confusion, not reduce it," he said.

In the letter, Mr Moore has asked for urgent clarification of the changes. 

"Our athletes are at a crucial time in their Olympic preparation and it is vital we get told of any changes that may affect their training as soon as possible," he said.

The Minister said the State institutes had demonstrated their ability to service athletes to the international level and they could do that more effectively than a centralised program.

The new concept could reduce the State institutes to 'feeder program' status and this could put State and corporate funding at risk.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 321 1444 or 222 9595